Detective Pikachu is an adventure game developed by Creatures Inc. and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a spin-off of the larger Pokémon franchise, but departs significantly from the main series' role-playing mechanics. Instead, it focuses on narrative-driven mystery solving, with a presentation style reminiscent of the Pokémon anime. The player controls Tim Goodman, a young man who is uniquely able to understand a gruff, coffee-loving, talking Pikachu who fancies himself a great detective. Together, they investigate various incidents around Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokémon coexist.
The game was first released in a shorter, downloadable episodic format in Japan in February 2016 under the title Great Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo. A complete, expanded retail version was released worldwide in March 2018. The core gameplay involves interviewing human and Pokémon witnesses, searching environments for clues, and piecing together evidence to form conclusions, a stark contrast to the battling and collecting focus of the main Pokémon games.
Detective Pikachu is notable for giving the iconic Pokémon mascot a distinct and unexpected personality—a deep-voiced, witty, and slightly cynical character—which became a central appeal of the game. Its unique premise and character-driven story laid the groundwork for a broader narrative, eventually leading to a sequel and a major Hollywood film adaptation. The game was praised for its charming character interactions and fresh take on the Pokémon world, though its simple puzzles were considered by some to be aimed at a younger audience.
